Farm gate



Feb. 5,v` 1929.

M. L. BRocHHAusEN FARM GATE Filed Aug. 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q H lQld 2 :x4/ m 2 mm1 8r|ll ull .Ulli w .Io. I m: im WIW nul HM ,.h .b OvHI7 S HM 9M ./U/.,/. u o 7 u /l Il j. 7 Q l .a 0 M ,w M. .2 .WWII j lililn 5 3 3l. ...nw .V F mw MMI) 3 Hou m--. .w .wl ml m1 l w m.. I l. a. lv 3l r 2 f 1 El@ Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,294 M. L. BROCHHAUSVEN l FARM GATEFiled Aug. 16. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 to open position.`

Patented Feb. s, 1929.

yMIATHIAS LEONARD BBOCHHAUSEN, OF ALBANY, YORK.

FARM:y GATE.

VApplication i'lledAugust 16, 1927. Serial No. 213,230.

This invention relates to self-opening farm gates of the kind which areadapted to open automatically when a vehicle approaches the gate and toclose automatically when the vehicle has passed through the gate.

The invention has for one of its objects a centrally pivoted gate whichmay be caused toopen and remain open automatically when a vehicle wheelisin a predetermined area of the roadway and to close automatically whenthe vehicle wheel leaves such area. To this end,.one arm of a leverpivoted beneath the. gate is adapted to be depressed by a track withwhich a wheel of a vehicle contacts,

thereby elevating the other arm of the lever which causes the elevationof a pivot upon which the gate is carried. Cam `surfaces are provided tocause the swinging ofl the' gate about the pivot on an arc of a circleand the gate is caused toremain in open position at right anglesl to itsnormally closed position so long asthe vehicle wheel contacts with thetrack by cooperating surfaces on the gateand its pivot. The gate isclosed by instrumentalities affected by the weight of the gate when notoverbalanced by the weight of a vehicle onthe track. c

A furthervobject of the invention is the retention of the gate inclosed'position by lock-r ing devices whichA will be automatically re-yleased when the vehicle wheel passes ontothe track. Accordingly, deviceson the gate and on a relatively'stationary portion of the structure areadapted to interengage when the gate" is in closed position, but todisengage when.

the gate pivot is raised by the said levers pre-` paratory to veffectingthe rotation of the vgate A further ob]ect of the invention is theprovision of means for manually opening a portion of the gate to permita'pedestrian to `pass. To this end a portion of the gate is hinged withrespect to thev remainder of the gate and manually releasable devicesare providedto normally maintain the hinged portionin rig-idv way 14 andmay extend slightly above the upv per webs ofthe channels 16. f i Yrelation with the remainderof the gate.

The invention also seeks a gate'structure and gate operating means whichshall be practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness ofmanufacture and durabilityy and con.- `Veni-ence in use.

These and other and the means-for their attainment will be more apparent`from the following detailed description taken in connection with theac-I 'objects of the invention' companying drawings lustrating a pre-lferred 'embodiment thereof, inv which Figure 1 is a view in frontelevation and partly in section showing the gate according to thisinvention and the'operating mechanism therefor. f F igure` 2 is aplanview of the structure illustrated'in Figure 1. V

F igure' 3 `is a fragmentary view in side elevationv of the gate pivotand gate rotating mechanism in gate closed position, parts being removedin the interest of clearn'ess.

.Figure 4'is ra section on the line 4 4 of Figy ure 3. f y

Figure 5 is a View infront'elevation and partly in section on the line 55 of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a front elevational View similar to Figure 3but showing the mechanism when the gate is inopen position.y f

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the mechanism in the positionshown in Figure 6.

` Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3 but `posts l15,and inprolongation ofthefence 12',

thatis, transverse to the roadway 14, there is disposed a pair ofchannels 16, 16, of any suitable material, preferably sufficiently belowthe surfacefof the roadway to permit the concealment of all parts of thegate actuating mechanism below the roadV surface 14. These channels 16form between thema slot or space 17 for transversely extending operating1evers 18, which are pivoted as at 19 to the channels 16and are sodisposed that the ends 20 of the longer arms'are proximate one another lat the centerof the roadway, while they ends 21 of the shorter arms areat thesides of the roadioo v Extendingin opposite'directions adj acentLthe margins of the roadway 14 are runways a' vor tracks 23 for the offwheel or wheels of a conveyance, not shown. These tracks 23 extend, oneon eachside of the road, in a direction opposite to that in which thegate 13 swings horizontally about its midpoint so that awheel ofy aVehicle approaching the 11ov l gate and keeping to the right will rideup on to the track and depress it. The outer end of the track 23 restson the surface of roadway 14 while the track terminates proximate thegate and rests, in elevated position, upon a plunger 24. This plunger 24may take the kform of a section of an I beam, reciprocating in a guide25, within which the end of the track also is guided. lVhen the end ofthe track 23 is depressed by the weight of a vehicle, the plunger 24depresses the end 21. of lever 18 and thereby elevates end 20 at thecenter of the roadway. It is the elevation of this end and thecontacting thereof with gate rotating mechanism which effects theopening of the gate. Y

At its midpoint the gate 13 is formed with a tubular pivot bearingmember 27 which reciprocates on and rotates upon a central pivot 28(Figure Pivot 28 and tubular bearing member 27 extend below the surfaceof the roadway into a chamber or space 22 between a surface plate 14 andthe top flanges 33 of the channels. At its lower end the gate tube 27 isformed with or is carried on a wedge shaped cam 29 which rests on androtates on a cam surface formed on a cylindrical base cam 30. Cain 30 ispreferably formed with a flange 31 by which it may be secured, as by thebolts 32, to the top flanges 33 of the channels 16.

The pivot 28 terminates in a lever bearing member' 34 which ispreferably rectangular in cross section and is Aformed at its lower endwith a rectangular plate slightly larger in its transverse dimensionsthan the member 34 and which serves as the bearing with which the leverends 20 `engage and by which the pivot 28-is raised. Y

Centrally the channels 16 are slotted vertically, as at 36, to receivethe squared lever bearing member 34, 35 of the central pivot Vmember 28.The upper end or top of this` lever bearing member 35 angularly notched,as at 37 on a` diagonal thereof and in 'a direction transverse to theplane of the channels 16 as shown clearly in Figures 5 and 6. Thisnotched top surface may be considered as a movable camming surface.

The cam base 30 is formed with four cam surfaces 40, 41, 42 Vand 43comprising oppositely disposed elevated points or dwells 46 and 47defined by the descending cam surfaces 41 and 43 and the asceiiding camsurfaces 40 -and 42, respectively.

The elevated points 44 and 45 are diagonally opposite one another andlie in a vertical plane A A through. the vertical axis of the pivot butat an angle to the vertical plane B-B transverse to the channels 16 andto the plane including the V-shaped notch (see Figure 4). Consideringthe desired direction of rotation of the gate as counterclockwise, asviewed from above, in order that its end may rotate away from anapvertical plane Ce-C but at an angle in ad-v vance or counterclockwiseof the median plane D-D of the channels 16.

The gate 13 so mounted on the bearing tube 27 as to lie in thelongitudinal plane y D-l) when the tracks 23 are not depressed. In thissituation, of course, the bearing 34, 35, due to its own weight and tothe weight of the gate, is at the lowermost'point, thereby depressingthe ends of the levers and permitting the lowering of the wedge whichstrikes the cani-surfaces in the plane BhBand is directed downwardlydown the inclined cam surfaces 41 and 43 to come to rest finally inthelow points 46 and 47. At this time high points ofthe V slot 37 arebelow'the lowest edge 29 of the wedge 29 as shown in Figure 5.

When now the gate is `to be opened by an approaching vehicle, thevehicle, keeping to the right of roadway 14, is so directed that its offwheel or wheels contacts with the track 23 and the weight of the vehiclecauses a depression of the plunger 24 and end 21 of lever 18 and therebyan elevation of end 20 of the lever 18. This elevation of end 20 raisesthe bearing member 34, 35 so that diagonally opposite side edges of theV slot 37 contact with the edge of the wedge 29 and raise the same. Thetendency of the wedge to slide down the edge of the V slot is opposed bythe ascending cams 40 and 42 and as the V slot continues to rise thetravel of the wedge against thecam surface 40 and 42 causes said cam torotate until it rests in thev' slot and the edge ofthe cam and hence theplane of the gate Alies in the transverse plane B-B in the median lineof the roadway. This rotation of the wedge obviouslycarries the gatewith it on the arc of a circle.

i/Jhen the vehicle wheel passes olf the track and no further weight isplaced on the Vend 21 of lever 18 .the weightvof the gate lowers thepivot bearing member 34, 35 so that the wedge 29 is again permitted tocontact with the cam base 30. This contact occurs on the line B-B(Figure 4) on the descending cam surfaces 41 and 43 and as the wedgeedge 29 rides thereover to rest in the low points 44 and 45 the gate isswung to closed position, Figure 5. l

Obviously, it is desirable to lock the gate in closed position toprevent'accidental opening, as by an animal pushing against the gate. Tothis end the wedge 29 may be formed with a downwardly extending lug` 50in prolongation of the edge`29. This lug 50 is adapted to lit i nto arecess 51 formed at the low point or `points 46 and/or 47 of the camsurfaces -so that when the gate is in closed position the lugs in therecesses prevent rotation ofthe gate to open or partially open positioneX- cept when the tubular bearing` member 27 is -raised through theinstrumentalities of the l pivot 28 and tracks 23.

It is also proposed according to this invention to provide for thepassage of a pedestrian through the gatewithout necessitat-` ing the useof the gate rotating mechanism. Accordingly, one or both wings 13 of thegate are pivotally or hingedly mounted on the pivot bearing tube 27^asatt-53 and, preferably, at the top the wing is providedl with an arm 54releasably secured, as by the pin' 55, to an apertured lug 56 carriedwith the tube 27. i lVhen the arm 54 is joined to the lug 5G bythe pin55 the gate wing is rigidmatically opened when a vehicle approaches thesame over a specified area and which will automatically close after thevehicle has passedtherethrough. If desired, the gate may be soconstructed as to effect an autof matic latching and unlatching of thegate in closed position. By a simple manually operable device the gatemay be opened, at least in part, for the passage of a pedestrian.

Various modifications will occur tovthos'e skilled in the art in thecomposition and configuration of the component elements by which thisfarm gate is shown to be realized and no limitation isintendedby thephraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in theaccompanying drawingscxcept as set forth in the appended claims. What Iclaim is f Il. A farm gate comprising, in combina tion, a centrallypivoted gate and means to cause said gate to open includinga trackadjacent an edge of the roadway, a lever pivoted below the surface ofthe roadway and having one end beneath the track and its other endbeneath the gate pivot, and means to close the gate dependent upon theweight thereof.

Q.. A farm gate comprising, in combinay tion, a tubular pivot bearingcarried with the gate, a pivot upon which the bearing reciprocates androtates, a wedge carried with the bearing, a circular camwith which thewedge engages and means to elevate the wedge including a track uponwhich at least a portion of a vehicle rests and a' lever engaging thetrack. I

3. A farm gate comprising, in combination, a tubular pivot bearingcarried with the ga te,

a pivot upon which the bearing reciprocates and rotates, a wedge carriedwith the bearn ing, a circular cam with'which the wedge engages andmeansto elevate the wedge, including a movable camming surface carried withthe pivot to engage the wedgel 4. A farm gate comprising, incombination, aftubular pivot bearing carried with the-gate, a pivot uponwhich the bearing reciprocatesand rotates, a wedge carried with thebearing, a circularcam with which the wedge engages and means to elevatethe wedge, including a movable camming surface, a lever pivoted beneaththe roadway having one end adapted` to elevate the movable cammingsurface and the other end adapted-to 'be depressed by a vehicle carriedwith the pivot to engage the wedge.

Y5. A farm gate, comprising, in combination, a tubular pivot bearing ca1ried with the gate, a pivot upon which the `bearing reciprocates androtates, a wedge carried with the bearing, a circular camwith which thewedge engages, and Jformed withfdiametrically opposite high points anddiametrically opposite' lowpoints angularly disposed with respect to thegate, and means to elevate the wedge, 1n-

cluding a movable camming surface carried with the pivot to engage thewedge and having drametrically opposite low points in a plane normal tothe gate,

6. A farm gate comprising, :in conibination,v

a tubular pivot bearing carried with the gate, a pivot upon whichfthebearing reciprocates Aand rotates, a wedge carried with the bearing,

a circular cam with which the wedge engages yand means to elevate thewedge, including a `movable camming surface carried with `the pivot toengagethe wedge and means to pre'- vent rotationv of the movable cam.l

7 A farmvate comprising, in combination, a centrally pivoted gate,transverse channels defininga lever operating space below the roadsurface, each formed centrally with `a out away slot, a transverselyextending lever pivoted in thespace, a plunger resting on the end of thelever, a track along the edge of the road resting at one end in elevatedcondition on the plunger, a circular cam resting on the channels butbeneath the road surface and formed with a vertical angular bore andwith diagonally opposite elevated dwells defined 'by a'vertical planeangularly disposed withtionof` the gate, a pivot having a squared lowfer end disposed betweenfthe channels and reciprocating inthe slotsthereof and a tubular pivot bearing carried with the gate at its midisepoint and reciprocable and rotatable upon the pivot and formed at itslower end with a wedge adapted to rest on the circular cam,

8. A farm gate comprising, in combination, a centrally pivoted gate, atrack along the edge ot the road resting at one end in elevated positionon one end ot tbe lever, a circular cam formed with a vertical angularbore and with diagonally opposite elevate/l dwells dis'- posed in avertical plane,singularly disposed with respect to a vertical planenormal to the gate in closed position, and described in a direction oitrotation away from tbe direction of opening of the gate and withdiametrically opposite low spots disposed in a vertical plane angularlydisposed with respect to a vertical plane includingl the gate .in closedposition and described in tl'ie said direction ci' rotation ot' thegate7 :1 pivot rest-ini;` on the otlier end of the lever, a tiibularpivot bea ring member carried with the gate and having' a Wedge at itslower end resting` on the circular cam.

9. A farm gate comprising', combination, a tubular pivot bearinglcarried with the gate, a pivot upon which the bearingl reciprocates androtates, a Wedge carried Wi tli the ,Joarin a circular cam vvitli whichthe Wedge engage means to elevate the Wedge7 and means to lock the gatein closed position inclndingy a lng carried with the Wedge adapted toenter a recess t'ormed in the circular cam.

angles to eacli other, one of said cams being` fixed and the other beingmovable, and means to elevate the wedge including the movable cam. l

1l. A farm gate comprising in combination a tubular pivot bearing`carried with the gate, a pivot upon which tlie bearing recipro- Catesand rotates, a' Wedge carried withr the bearing, a pair of similar camseet at right angles to eacli otherj one of Vsaid cams being lined andthe other being movabla and means to' elevate the wedge including` themovable cam, a track in the roadway and a lever enfgaging the track andmovable cani.

l2. il farm gate comprising, in combinau tion7 a tnbnlar pivot bearing,`carried with the gateI7 a pivot upon Which the bearing reciprocates androtates, operatin` members compris ine; a Wedge carried with thebearing, and a circular cam with which the Wedge engages, means toelevate the Wedge, and means to lock the Agate in closed positionincluding a lug' carried by one of the operating members and adapted toenter a recess formed in the other member.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.`

MATHIAS LEONARD BROCHHAUSEN.

